Decorative side panel accessory for a chair



Aug. 7, 1962 F. G. ROSE DECORATIVE SIDE PANEL ACCESSORY FOR A CHAIR Filed May 19, 1961 INVENTOR Fred G. Rode WWM WITNESS ATTORNEY Fatented Aug. 7, 1962 3,048,441 DECORATIVE SIDE PANEL ACCEESQRY FOR A CHAlR Fred G. Rose, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignor to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 19, 1961, Ser. No. 111,221) 3 Claims. (Cl. 297-463) The present invention relates to chairs.

Individual chairs, and particularly individual chairs of the folding and stacking types, are often ganged together by means of clamps to form rows of seating whereby an open area, e.g. a gymnasium, can quickly be converted into .an auditorium. The primary object of the present in vention is to provide a decorative side panel accessory which can be applied to the chairs at the ends of such rows of seating, along the aisles formed between or at the sides of banks of seating. The temporary seating is thus given more the appearance of permanent auditorium seating. Other objects of the invention are to provide such a decorative side or end panel which can quickly and easily be applied to the end chairs of rows, which is simple and sturdy in construction and which is reasonably economical in manufacture.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front and outside perspective view of an inverted-Y type folding chair having the new decorative side panel accessory mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a rear and inside perspective view of the same;

FIGURE 3 is an inside elevational view of the new accessory per se;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the same; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken transversely through :a front leg of a chair and showing in fragmentary section the new accessory and a front bracket thereof applied to said front chair leg.

Referring now in detail to this drawing, FIGURES 1 and 2 show by way of illustration a folding chair of the inverted-Y type having at one side thereof a front leg 1.0 and a rear leg 11 which are connected by a hinge member 12 and which are downwardly divergent from said hinge member when the chair is in its unfolded condition for use.

The new accessory comprises a generally rectangular, wood side panel 13 having a decorative outer surface 14. A pair of elongated metal channel brackets, a front bracket 15 and a rear bracket 16, are mounted on the inner surface 17 of the side panel 13. As here shown, the brackets 15 and 16 are first secured as by welding to a mounting plate 18 which is then attached to the inside of the side panel 13 as by means of wood screws 19.

The channel brackets 15 and 16 are mounted on the inner surface 17 of the side panel 13 in downwardly divergent disposition conforming to the downward divergence of the front and rear chair legs and 11. The front channel bracket opens rearwardly-downwardly for engagement with the front chair leg 10, and the rear channel bracket 16 opens forwardly-downwardly for engagement with the rear chair leg. The accessory is detachably mounted on the chair by simply sliding it downwardly over the chair legs with the channel brackets engaging the legs, in which mounted position the accessory is maintained by its own weight with no other means of attachment required. The accessory is removed by merely lifting it off the chair.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a novel and attractive side or end panel for chairs ganged into rows, and while but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that specific details thereof may be altered or omitted, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A detachable decorative side panel accessory for a chair having at one side thereof divergent front and rear legs, said accessory comprising: a side panel having a decorative outer surface; and a pair of elongated brackets mounted on the inner surface of said side panel in divergent disposition conforming to the divergence of said front and rear chair legs, said brackets being detachably engageable with said chair legs respectively for mounting the side panel on the chair.

2. A detachable decorative side panel accessory for a chair having at one side thereof downwardly divergent front and rear legs, said accessory comprising: a side panel having a decorative outer surface; and a pair of elongated channel brackets mounted on the inner surface of said side panel in downwardly divergent disposition conforming to the downward divergence of said front and rear chair legs, said front channel bracket opening rearwardly-downwardly for engagement with the front chair leg and said rear channel bracket opening forwardlydownwardly for engagement with the rear chair leg whereby the accessory may be detachably mounted on the chair and maintained in position thereon by its own weight with no other means of attachment.

3. A detachable decorative side panel accessory for a chair having at one side thereof downwardly divergent front and rear legs, said accessory comprising: a generally rectangular wood side panel having a decorative outer surface; a metal plate mounted flush on the inner surface of said side panel; and a pair of elongated metal channel brackets welded to the inner surface of said metal plate in downwardly divergent disposition conforming to the downward divergence of said front and rear chair legs, said front channel bracket opening rearwardly-downwardly for engagement with the front chair leg and said rear channel bracket opening forwardly-downwardly for engagement with the rear chair leg whereby the accessory may be detachably mounted on the chair and maintained in position thereon by its own weight with no other means of attachment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,173,159 Ewan Sept. 19, 1939 2,180,999 Sellers Nov. 21, 1939 2,620,019 Merrill et al. Dec. 2, 1952 2,886,098 Hoven et a1. May 12, 1959 2,914,118 Sawyers Nov. 24, 1959 

